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Written by Yeo Zhi Qi and Mok Yuen Teng
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Page 2 of 3
It is hard not to do a double-take when you first hear Sew Jyh Wee (Jyh) teaching in Malay on Malay language. However, there is no doubting his passion for the language, with his experience in writing about the language as a testament of his passion for it.
He also enjoys theatre productions and never fails to enliven his classes with his funny antics. Always full of zest and youthful spirit, he is a great inspiration to his students.
1) What do you do during your free time?
When there is free time, I will head to performances either live or on screen. (I) Watched Gin & Tonic, D.D.D., and Performing Performance at the Esplanade between July and August 2007.
I enjoyed Gin & Tonic because no language was used to tell the story as the brilliant Ramesh Meyyappan provided a chockfull through his mime. I was humored, scared and worried, (but) the manner in which he feigned horror through his miming of a ghost was funny.
On one hand, I was worried that the signal post guy he was miming at would let the ghost in, but on the other hand, I was scared because the ghost miming looked real against the backdrop of green florescent and alarming music.
2) How do you juggle your career and leisure activities?
Business and pleasure mix when you find joy in your work, be it performing pedagogy or reviewing a latest book on applied cultural linguistics sent to me. It is a blessing to be able to enjoy the work you do.
On hindsight, majoring in liberal arts and education was a terrific idea. (I'm) Very grateful to my father who stopped me from dreaming and pushed for education (pun intended).
Initially, it was difficult dealing with my parents going against my desire of wanting to be this and that after a fruitful A-level. ‘Teaching' sounded less desirable then but more than a decade later, time has worked out well by revealing things to me personally.
3) Do you have problems connecting with much younger people?
Last year, I watched fireworks with three 17-year-old girls. It was a spectacular view of fireworks bursting right in front of us from the Kallang deck, when we went for the post-National Day Fireworks Festival.
This time, one of them suggested a terrific idea, "Why don't we check into Fullerton for a full bay view?"
(However) The thought of The New Paper splashing a headline across their front page on us 'enjoying' fireworks in a hotel was not appealing. Hence, we just squeezed with the rest along Esplanade and went "Wah!" safely before going for cheap 'potong' (cut) ice-cream and pop-corn at Marina South.
4) Where is your favourite hangout?
NLBs: NUS Central Library and NIE Library.
"Get a life!" I hear faintly.
My reply is, "Already been there and done that. I am comfortable with my (pre)occupation." One's definition of life might actually be something very disconcerting to others. Live and let live.
Our parents might not be cleaning and running after us if they had chosen to get a life for themselves. For that, I am ever grateful to be blessed with loving parents who allow me to pursue the things I enjoy although they might not agree with me.
5) What is the most adventurous thing that you have done?
The most recent one was bringing a busload of students for a three-day
trip. I was already receiving phone calls from a parent who wanted to
institutionalize a child whom he claimed had bullied his daughter. At
that time, I was more worried about their safety each time we got off
the bus, making sure that they wouldn't misbehave at religious sites,
nature reserves and so forth.
I (also) needed to make sure nobody went hungry
or littered after every meal, that they went to the
toilet before another journey, and the quarreling ones didn't get the
chance to fight again. But guess what, they did!
So the adventure actually
began after the trip. It was supposed to be a learning journey for the
students but I probably learnt more than my charges.
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